Freight car door lock



' Oct. 13, 1953 BENTLEY 2,655,371

FREIGHT CAR DOOR LOCK Filed Oct. 30, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l azz'zenzze INVENTOR BY I ATTORNEYS Oct. 13, 1953 J. F. BENTLEY 2,655,371

FREIGHT CAR DOOR LOCK Filed Oct. 30, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 --/a j l L INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 13, 1953 J. F. BENTLEY 2,655,371

FREIGHT CAR DOOR LOCK Filed Oct. 30, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z g.4. I7

w JIZBenZZey 2 L I Oct. 13, 1953 J. F. BENTLEY FREIGHT CAR DOOR LOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 50, 1947 ,jlflezzzley INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREIGHT CAR DOOR LOCK John F. Bentley, Roscommon, Mich.

Application October 30, 1947, Serial No. 783,001

1 Claim.

This invention relates to freight car door locks, the primary object of the invention being to provide a car door lock having means to not only lock the door and hold the door in its closed position, but at the same time afford means whereby the door or closure may be moved by the lock mechanism, thereby providing means to open the lock and at the same time swing the closure to its open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a freight car door lock wherein the operation of the lock will act to break the seal used in sealing car doors, thereby reducing the time required in opening the lock and closure, to a minimum.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lock which may be operated to maintain the closure in an open position, sufficient to admit air to the interior of the car, when the car is used for transporting livestock.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts within the scope of the claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a railway car door lock, constructed in accordance with the invention, the lock being shown in its closed position.

Figure 2 is an edge elevational view of the lock.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the lock in a partially open condition, illustrating the lock when used in ventilating the car.

Figure 4 is an elevational view illustrating the handle in its open position, one end of the lever being shown as contacting with the cam section of the lock, in breaking the connection between the door or frame to facilitate the opening of the door.

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the handle as moved so that the upper end thereof is in contact with a lug of the door frame to cause the door to move to its closed position when the lock is operated in one direction.

Figure 6 illustrates an inverted view of the handle.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'I-l of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9. is a sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-I0 of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on line II-II of Figure 4.

Figure '12 is a sectional view taken on line I 2I2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicates the keeper section of the lock, which is secured to the car door frame, adjacent to the door opening of the car.

The keeper section comprises a plate 6 from which extend the plates I and 8, which plates are spaced apart to provide the keeper for the flange 9 that extends inwardly from the handle section II) that is pivotally connected with the arm II. This arm I I is connected with the handle section II], through the pivotal connection I2 that comprises the bolt I3. Thus, it will be seen that due to this construction, the handle section may swing vertically with respect to the arm I I.

The arm I I is provided with an elongated opening I4 elongated longitudinally of the arm, the opening I4 accommodating the securing bolt I5 by means of which the arm I I is held to the plate I6 that is secured to the door proper.

At the outer end of the arm II, is a jaw l I, which jaw is so constructed that it will fit behind the lug I8 that extends outwardly from the spacing arm 21 to be hereinafter more fully described.

As clearly shown by the drawings, the forward edge of the arm II is curved as at I9, the curved edge being adapted to engage the cam rib 20 that extends from the plate 6 of the keeper section, to break the connection between the door and its frame, by moving the handle section to cause the curved surface I9 to move over the cam rib.

The plates 1 and 8 are formed with inclined openings 2| that are adapted to align with the wide rectangular opening 22, formed in the flange 9, for the reception of the seal wire 23. Due to the shape of the openings, it will be obvious that by pulling the handle section I0 upwardly, the wire 23 of the seal will be cut, releasing the handle section and door to which it is connected, to allow the door to be opened.

Formed on the plate I6, is the guide finger 24 that moves into the opening 25 of the plate 8, the upper surface of the guide finger 24 being inclined to set up a wedging action with the wall of the opening 25, insuring a close fit between the door and its frame.

Associated with the guide finger, is an upstand- 3 ing lug 26 that also acts to stabilize the movement of the handle section l0.

When the lock is in its locking position, and it is desired to open the door, the handle section is moved to cut the seal wire. The handle section I is now swung to the right, the arm H moving over the cam rib 26, forcing the closure away from the edge of the closure or door frame to the end that the door may be readily slid to its open position.

When it is desired to move the door to its closed position, the handle section is slid upwardly until the jaw l1 contacts with the lug l8. By moving the handle section to the left, the door may he slid to its closed position.

Pivotally connected with the keeper section 5, is a spacing arm 27 which is .formed with spaced notches 28, which notches are of widths to accommodate the lug 28', in a manner as shown by Figure 3 of the drawings. In this way, an opening is provided between one edge of the door and its frame, but the door is at the same time securely locked against opening by unauthorized persons.

Because these notches are spaced apart, it will be seen that the ventilating space provided between one edge of the closure and the edge of the door frame, may be varied to meet certain requirements.

The lug 28 is provided with an opening that is in registry with the opening of the flange 29 associated therewith, the flange 29 rising from the spacing arm 26, at points adjacent to the notches, as clearly shown by Figure 3 of the drawings. Thus, it will be obvious that when the door is moved to a partially open position for ventilating purposes, the door may be locked by the usual car seal now in use.

It might be further stated that when the door is moved to .its open position, the lock will be held in such a position that it will be out of the way of persons loading the car.

It will also be noted that the handle section not only acts as a means for locking the closure or door closed, but at the same time affords means whereby the person in charge of the car, may slide the door to its open or closed position.

What is claimed is:

A sliding car door operating mechanism comprising a vertical keeper plate adapted to be secured to a car door frame adjacent to the car door opening, a vertical keeper arm pivotally connected to the keeper plate at the upper end of said keeper arm, a lug extending laterally from said keeper arm and offset with respect to the pivot of said keeper arm, a vertical cam rib extending from said keeper plate under said lug, a pivoted locking arm carried by the door disposed opposite to said keeper plate, a jaw on said locking arm cooperating with said lug for moving and locking the car door in its closed position, said jaw presenting a curved surface movable over said cam rib forcing said car door to its open position upon movement of said locking arm in one direction.

JOHN F. BENTLEY.

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